As we advance in age, the need to learn more about our body makeup and how we can heal bodily pains becomes more important. Today, loads of people are joining the global movement of using Cannabidiol, or CBD for a variety of health reasons.
CBD has become so widespread that The New York Timesquoted advocates calling it a magical elixir that cures all ailments, as it has an active ingredient found in everything from dog foods to pharmaceuticals. While this isn’t exactly the case, CBD is an increasingly popular supplement for our times.
So, what exactly is CBD? And what are the essential components of CBD oil?
For one, CBD is one of the 113 identified cannabinoids inside cannabis and accounts for about 40 percent of the plant. By law, CBD products can only contain up to 0.3 percent of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, one of the cannabinoids inside cannabis.
THC is a cannabinoid that causes the feeling of getting ‘high’ due to its psychoactive composition whereas CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
These two cannabinoids, CBD and THC, have different ways by which they cause effects on the body, especially the brain receptors that are known to help us with pleasure, memory, thinking, coordination and perception of time.
What are the effects of CBD oil on the human brain?
CBD oil has been scientifically researched and proven, to some extent, to bring relief to people who suffer from arthritis, inflammatory conditions, insomnia, epilepsy, bone diseases, bone growth, and certain forms of cancer.
With all these scientific claims, one begins to wonder: what effects does CBD oil have on our brains and bodies in general?
While this is unknown to most people, the human body naturally produces certain cannabinoids. We also have two receptors in our bodies for cannabinoids, called the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors can be found throughout the body but most of them will be found in the brain.
Both CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain deal with our feelings of pain, emotion, thought, coordination and locomotion, cognitive memory and other functions. When ingested, THC attaches itself to these receptors as well as other CB2 receptors found in the body’s immune system, helping ease inflammation and pain.
On the other hand, when you ingest CBD, it stimulates your CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body and brain to produce more natural cannabinoids. This is especially beneficial when countering symptoms related to drug addiction or withdrawal.
How much of CBD oil should be taken?
Medical experts are still not quite sure about the appropriate dosage to use when taking CBD oil. We all have individual physical characteristics that set our bodies and brains apart and react to different dosages of CBD oil in unique ways.
This is also the reason that makes giving an accurate dosage plan is difficult. It is advised as always to consult with a medical practitioner first before taking in new substance into the body. This is also true for merchants who are selling CBD online and are looking to package CBD oils and CBD-infused products in different amounts.